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The Academy of Our Lady of Guam History

The Academy of Our Lady of Guam is a college preparatory Catholic high school for young women centrally located in the capital of Hagatna, Guam. The school community promotes secondary education in a college preparatory environment in the center of a governmental, religious and business locale.

The Academy of Our Lady of Guam was established September 8, 1949, as the first all-girl college preparatory Catholic high school. The school was founded by His Excellency, Bishop Appolinaris William Baumgartner, OFM Cap., D.D., and the Sisters of Mercy from Belmont, North Carolina who also established a Sisters of Mercy Community on Guam in sending three pioneer sisters, namely, Sister Mary Inez Underwood, RSM, Sister Mary Louise Weisenforth, RSM, and Sister Mary Annette McBennett, RSM.

The Academy opened its doors to thirty-six freshmen. The first principal was the late Sister Inez Underwood. The school was housed in a section of the Agana Cathedral activities hall in which the students were taught basic academic and religious courses.

In 1953, Sister Mary Roberta Taitano, RSM became the principal of the Academy. The administration aimed for better facilities, a larger teaching staff, and a more diversified curriculum. The faculty saw a change as graduates from off-island colleges and universities joined the staff to include the laity, priests and religious.

Within the year of 1953, the Academy of Our Lady of Guam graduated thirty-five women. Eighteen of the graduates went on to college. Eleven of the eighteen received scholarships solicited by Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores and the Sisters of Mercy. These women went on to receive degrees in education, nursing and other professional fields. Our first Academy of Our Lady of Guam students initiated the annual May Crowning, the Ring Ceremony, and the first yearbook, which have become part of the traditions at the Academy. From the time the school was established, the Academy school community participates in the annual December 8 procession in honor of the Academy’s patron saint.

In 1960, under the leadership of Monsignor Felixberto C. Flores, the construction of the main building of the Academy was completed, and the students transferred from the quonset huts to a two-story concrete building. As the enrollment at the Academy increased, the school acquired a portion of the Sisters of Mercy convent. The campus grew to include nine classrooms, a Library, a Teachers’ Lounge, and Music, Art and Journalism rooms.

Through the years as enrollment grew, the faculty increased and more courses were added to the curriculum. New clubs, activities, school newspaper and Student Council were instituted for the benefit of the students. The Academy of Our Lady of Guam became involved in interscholastic and island-wide affairs. In 1965, Sister Mary Mark Martinez, RSM, principal, established the National Honor Society at the suggestion of Archbishop Flores. Presently, over eight hundred young women and honorary members have signed the Academy of Our Lady of Guam's National Honor Society Camarin Chapter Log.

In School Year 1966 to1967, under the guidance of Sister Evelyn Muna, RSM, principal, a movement toward curriculum expansion was instituted at the Academy. Within the same year, Academy of Our Lady of Guam received a grant from the National Science Foundation to send three teachers for training at the University Hawaii. The following School Year in1968, the Academy held its first Song Fest in the school’s auditorium. The Sophomore class won the Song Fest competition, and Sister Marie Pierre Martinez, RSM, principal, presented the trophy to the proud class. Since then, Song Fest has evolved into an Annual Family Night Songfest Celebration, and is one of the school’s biggest event of the year. This event has grown from the school’s auditorium in its early years, to the gym in the 1990's, and now to the UOG Calvo Fieldhouse to accommodate over 2,000 attendees.

In 1973, under the leadership of Sister Francis Jerome Cruz, RSM, principal, the Academy of Our Lady of Guam received the national accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, making it the first high school on Guam to receive full accreditation status. The Academy has continued to maintain favorable reviews from visiting Accreditation Teams, and currently is accredited with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Educational Association. In 1974, the Academy had the long awaited completion of the Cafeteria/Auditorium building with the Cafeteria on the first floor and the Auditorium on the second floor.

In 1982, a change and break in tradition occurred under the leadership of the principal, Sister Mary Helene Torres, RSM. The Academy uniform went from the white and blue checkered jumper to a grayish-blue pin-striped vest and skirt ensemble with matching blue quarter-sleeve blouse. Then in 2007, the Academy changed the uniform to the same grayish-blue pin-striped with the quarter-sleeve attached to the vest creating a suit effect with the skirt ensemble, which is still the uniform used today.

From 1984 to 1990, during the administration of Sister Mary Angela Perez, RSM, principal, the renovation of the Chemistry, Biology, Computer and Typing Labs were undertaken and completed. In addition, the acoustical and lighting systems were upgraded; the school system was computerized; and the Development Office and the Alumnae Association were also established. In February 1985, Sister Angela, the promoter of the Academy of Our Lady gymnasium/performing arts theater, formed a committee to study and initiate planning, fundraising and financing for the capital building project. With the inadequacy of space, the proposed site was the school’s parking lot, and the construction company prepared to build a ‘gymnasium on stilts’.

In mid-1990, Sister Francis Jerome Cruz, RSM, principal, took over the helm again and continued to oversee the completion of “Project Gym”. Despite obstacles and delays in financing, "Project Gym" was done, and the celebration for the ribbon-cutting and blessing of the new AOLG Gymnasium / Performing Arts Center took place on April 25, 1993. The school continued to progress: a school Advisory Board was established and the curriculum was expanded to include honor courses in all required academic subjects. In 1995, the Academy acquired the Cathedral Grade School building and facilities when the merger of Cathedral Grade School and Bishop Baumgartner took place. In 1996, the school expanded with additional classrooms, library and multi-media room, art, science and computer labs, prayer room, separate faculty dining room, and faculty lounge. The Academy continued to grow with the establishment of an Endowment Fund and an annual giving program, school-wide internet access to World Wide Web and the wiring of each classroom for internet access. Full re-accreditation by WASC continued to be achieved by the school.

In 1996-97, Super-typhoon Paka caused massive damages to the main building, cafeteria, and gymnasium in which repairs were made to the school. From 1998 to 2001, the renovations and repairs to auditorium/cafeteria, classrooms, and facelift of all restrooms were done. In 2002, Typhoon Pongsona caused extensive damages to the buildings and repairs were done again to the school.

The School Year 1998-1999 welcomed the new millennium by unveiling the first ever Hall of Fame and inducting the first five laureates. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor alumnae who have achieved or demonstrated excellence in their profession or field of endeavor and have exhibited service and loyalty to the Academy as they continue to exemplify the spirit of the Academy of Our Lady of Guam embracing the spiritual values of Christianity. Every five years, the Academy embarks on the search for another five acclaimed individuals who are nominated to the hall of Fame and are chosen by a panel of judges whose names remain undisclosed until the evening of the Gala Banquet. Thus every five years, the Academy continues to bring forth another set of five excellent and professional women to its Hall of Fame.

In January 2003, the Academy held its first annual 5K “Fund” Run/Walk in honor of the 50th reunion of the Academy's first graduating class, the Class of 1953. Proceeds from this annual event continue to be earmarked for scholarships and tuition assistance. Since the inaugural 5K, each annual 5K “Fund” Run/Walk honors the respective class celebrating its 50th reunion.

In School Year 2004-2005, Mrs. Mary Terlaje Meeks was appointed as the new school principal. Sister Francis Jerome Cruz, RSM became the first AOLG President under the modified administrative structure of the school. Mary, an alumna from the class of 1969, has over thirty years experience in education, and served the Academy for over six years as a teacher, department chair, staff development coordinator, and student advisor. Under her leadership as the overall coordinator for the 2002 Accreditation review, the school subsequently received the accreditation maximum term of six years.

In December 7, 2005, the dedication of the "Our Lady of Camarin Prayer Garden" by Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, and a life-size statue of our Lady of Camarin graced the courtyard located in the center of the school campus. The garden provides Academy students, visitors, and generations to come, a wonderful place for relaxation, contemplation and prayer. Many changes continued to abound the Academy from School Year 2008 to 2010: the renovation of the prayer room, the installation of a 24-hour surveillance system, an elevator in cafetorium, a new phone system which provided telephone sets in all the classrooms and offices, the renovation of the first and second floor restrooms and staff restrooms, and electrical upgrades.

In School Year 2011, the construction of the Catherine McAuley STaR Wing Project, an acronym for Science, Technology, and Resource, began with the renovation and acquisition of rooms from Agana Mercy Convent. The STaR Wing project added rooms for the a new and larger Library, a computer Resource room, and new and state-of-the art Chemistry and Biology Labs. On May 13, 2011, members of the Class of 2011 were the first class in Academy’s history to graduate in the school’s gym. Ninety-one young women were proclaimed alumnae with the turning of their tassels at graduation. In the past, the Academy’s Commencement ceremonies took place at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral -Basilica. Since 2012, Academy’s graduations continue to be held at the Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix Center.

The School Year 2012 brought in the completion of the Academy STaR (Science, Technology and Resource) Wing comprised of Science Labs and classrooms on the first floor and computer labs, and the Eugenia A. Leon Guerrero Library and Resource room on the second floor. The second floor featured a newly updated and renovated library with 23-station resource computer lab, a 16-station computer classroom equipped with advanced software for graphics and artwork, a MAC lab consisting of 19- MAC Book Pro and 10 I-Pads, and an up-to-date Biology and Chemistry labs located on the first floor next to their respective classes.

With the completion of the STaR Wing and the move of the Library to the second floor, the vacated space gave way for the needed construction of the Gathering Room along with the Alumnae Office, Archive Office, Technology Office, and the Wellness Room. The Gathering Room served as a venue for large meetings, guest speaker presentations for multiple classes, and for other tasks requiring the room space. In 2013, the Academy renamed the auditorium in the Ysrael Auditorium of Fine Arts. The summer of 2013 included the much needed renovation of the Faculty Dining Room and Lounge with the addition of a separate kitchen area.

After preparing for the Accreditation Team in School Year 2013 to 2014, the school received its eighth full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). It was the first full accreditation for the Academy with the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA). The school received the WCEA Accreditation Status through June 30, 2020. The WASC and WCEA recognition and certificates are displayed proudly in the school’s main lobby. These certificates symbolize the hard work and tremendous effort the school has gone through for the past sixty-six years to ensure that the Academy upholds its full accreditation status. These certificates also signify Academy’s dedication to academic excellence and commitment to promote the holistic development of young women and a quality educational experience permeated with Gospel values. Academy forges on with sixty-six years of legacy filled with faith-based academic excellence preparing women for success. The Academy continues to nurture and mentor young women and empower them to make significant contributions in Church, society and the world at large. The school celebrated sixty-five years in 2015 appropriately themed: I Am Woman: Cherish. Celebrate. Embrace.

With the School Year 2014 to 2015, many projects and repairs were done with no interruption of the run of the school, especially classes. The Academy celebrated the first day of school with the liturgy and the blessing of the students by the school chaplain Father Tom McGrath, SJ. At the 65th Homecoming parade on September 26-27, and the Class of 1972 created the Winning Banner, which is proudly displayed at the school gym. Significant events continued to be celebrated on the 65th year, such as Mercy Day, Archbishop Anthony Apuron visit, NHS sponsored-Weiner Roast, Thanksgiving Liturgy, Advent Retreat to recollect the importance of the coming of Jesus, December 8 Procession for Our Academy Patron--Our Lady of Camarin / Santa Maria Kamalin, and the school's Christmas gift to the parents--the Christmas Program.

With the start of the new year 2015, celebrations abound with noteworthy events such as the Annual 5K “Fund” Run-Walk. At the annual 5K, there is a pre-race ceremony, to honor our “Sisters” who have gone before us and the traditional passing of the ceremonial torch honoring members of the 50th Jubilee Class, both of which exclusive to Academy's annual 5K. On January 23, 2015 the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony initiated twenty new members and an honorary member. The school celebrated Catholic Schools Week with the opening of the Liturgy and other events for the week. The faculty and staff attended the Catholic School Week Conference and Liturgy, which were held at the Father Duenas Memorial Phoenix Center. A special visit from Our Lady of Fatima that travelled around the world graced the Academy on Friday, February 13, 2015. Our students experienced a prayerful and peaceful message of hope, joy and reverence to Our Lady. The Academy celebrated the Annual Songfest Family Night on February 14, 2015. Ash Wednesday Liturgy started the beginning of Lent on March 5, 2015, and the on-campus Lenten Retreat took place in the school auditorium on March 7. The following events took place the last quarter of School Year 2014-2015: March 26 to 28--Spring Production “Cinderella”; April 21 to 24--Fine Arts Week; April 25--Junior-Senior Prom; May 1--May Crowning; May 14--Baccalaureate Mass; and, May 18--Commencement. The last day of school, May 22, closed with Liturgy and Ring Ceremony to initiate the Juniors as Seniors for School Year 2015-2016. In addition, Sister Francis Jerome Cruz, RSM retired as President and the school bade farewell and wished success to the future endeavors of one of Academy's leaders who has served the school for forty-eight years and truly helped make a difference at the Academy.

With the start of School Year 2015- 2016, the Academy welcomed Sister Mary Angela Perez, RSM, who returned to the helm as the head of the school. Our new President forged on with the many accomplishments achieved through the years; she continues to lay the groundwork for the growth and progress of the school. With Academy's new "tech savvy" leader on board, the school instantly became well known on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram. The Academy of Our Lady of Guam Alumnae closed Facebook page went virile and garnered over 2,000 alumnae instantly. Instagram is a huge success with the students, who now are now kept in the loop with their means of communicating on a regular basis. On December 8, 2015 under the guidance of Sister Angela, the school launched its new website: aolg.edu.gu. Today, the school continues to grow by leaps and bounds as it builds the Academy Legacy into the 21st Century.